Host Jazzbeau

The previous Tonic-Gate was about Royal Club tonic. I haven't heard of Canadian Club tonic. Are they the same?

IIRC it was also called 'Evergreen' at first.

On both the River and Ocean Yacht segments, Scenic is the top line of the company and Emerald is the 'budget' line. This doesn't necessarily make Emerald a 'budget' line in the overall cruise industry. This is especially clear with the Yachts: not having helicopters and submarines hardly makes a ship 'budget' ...

I agree with your concern about booking with an unknown agent based solely on low price. The best way to find a good high-rebate travel agent is to ask onboard your next cruise – it can be a good conversation starter. So much safer-feeling to book based on a personal recommendation. It's a shame we can't give such here in Cruise Critic, but here it is...

Posts violating CC rules about TAs have been removed: you can't give any hint, including the type of building. "Internet TA" is OK. Just leave it at that.

Azamara is not all-inclusive and not a luxury cruise line (assuming that's what you meant by high-end). It is a Premium line, and provides high-end value in some areas but can't do so in all without charging luxury all-inclusive prices. If included wine is a must-have for you (a completely rational view), you will likely be more satisfied on other lines; IMHO Azamara isn't likely to fix this to your satisfaction.

But now you’re on a European line, so they use Euros. Same principle: it’s not where you are sailing, but whether the cruise line considers itself American or European.

I believe AMA was originally called Amadeus, but there was a trademark dispute and they were forced to change. So now AMA stands for “AMA.”

That word is not censored because of the historical meaning, but because people use it on Cruise Critic as a slur for people they consider controlling, eg about spelling.

Villa Vie’s Odyssey Enters Drydock in Belfast

Isn't that one of the new Viking Mississippi river ships? 🤣

I thought it meant you didn't like people named Lachlan... 😁

Your TA has recommended the least crowded ships (Tauck), the most crowded (Viking), and the most polarizing decor (Uniworld). I would also suggest AMA and Scenic, to round out the luxury category. Pay attention to cabin size and layout, number of passengers (almost all ships are the same size, based on lock size - and they go from 130 to 190 pax, a huge difference!). The other important factor is itinerary - at first blush they may all look the same, but the details vary in ways that may be important to you. I especially like Scenic’s 10-night itineraries, which add so much detail on the same stretch of River. As to price, be sure to take into account the different inclusions.

And if it's refundable, it goes back to the credit card you file onboard. If you have a balance due at the end of the cruise, that goes to the credit card; if you have a positive balance, the refund goes to the same card.

If the TA pays the full value of the OBC, it should be refundable. If it was a shared promotion between Azamara and the TA, it would be non-refundable.